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Task Bank

We are hearing from employers of an emerging practice called "task banks". Employers are developing a list of tasks and jobs that an injured employee is able to perform given his/her medical restrictions while transitioning back to into the workplace. The important thing is to keep the valued employee engaged. So say, for instance, an employee returning after cancer related surgery. They may not be able to perform all of their essential duties but may be able to help out in say another department. A department short of staff or has a seasonal/cyclical surge in orders. This person with cancer remains engaged in the workforce while a overwhelmed supervisor has additional support at no cost to her/his department. This, too, may serve to boost supervisors/managers support of RTW efforts when they are a direct beneficiary of such efforts.

Transition Back to Work

Providing light duty or part-time work, and partial disability payments during the transition back to work, can encourage workers to return earlier, minimizing the likelihood they will drop out of the workforce.

It can be a huge loss to lose an employee and it may become necessary to reassign duties to other workers or even bring in a replacement. Offering employers wage subsidies for workers or for accommodations is a promising strategy for facilitating return-to-work.

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Washington COHE Model

What would it take to adopt/adapt key components of the COHE model to address your state’s workers’ compensation program challenges? (Please consider the required policy changes, the key players that would need to be convinced, and the supports, resources or materials that would help address their concerns and overcome barriers.)